ASUS Eee PC 1000HE 10-Inch Netbook

ASUS Eee PC 1000HE 10-Inch Netbook (1.66 GHz Intel Atom N280 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, 10 GB Eee Storage, Bluetooth, XP Home, 9.5 Hour Battery Life) Black

The Eee PC 1000HE by Asus comes in Fine Ebony style that has a much longer battery life than previous models, up to 9 hours with the help of the new Intel N280 processor and Asus Super Hybrid Engine battery technology. The Eee PC has a sturdy LED backlit display with a high-resolution screen. At 1024 x 600 pixels, images are clear and sharp, making it more comfortable on the eyes reading and editing documents. Typing has also gotten easier with the new chicklet keyboard, which gives you wide keys that are spread out to help prevent mistyping. On the top of this screen is the 1.3 Megapixel Webcamera that works synchronously with the 802.11N (2.4GHz only) wireless to provide web conferencing anywhere, anytime for easier web communications and increased work efficiency. To complete the wireless package you also get Bluetooth that allows you to easily connect wireless with Bluetooth headsets or mouse for added comfort and use.

Store all your favorite music, video and personal files on the 160GB hard drive and when you need additional space or some way to backup, you can do it with the additional 10GB Eee Online storage. Preinstalled on the Eee PC to provide you a familiar interface is Microsoft's Windows XP Home, Windows Live Messenger and Works for numerous office applications, that allows anyone to learn, work and play. With all of these features the Asus Eee PC makes for a fantastic purchase as a well-equipped second notebook or a Web access tool, so beat the crowds, and get yours today before they sell out! 10 LCD WSVGA (1024 x 600) LED Backlight Display Intel UMA Graphics Card 1.3 Megapixel Webcamera and Digital Array Microphone WiFi 802.11b/g/n (draft n is 2.4GHz only) Wireless Bluetooth 10/100Mbps LAN Stereo Speakers Memory Card Slot - MultiMedia Card (MMC), Secure Digital (SD) Card, SDHC Connections - 3 x USB, VGA, Headphone, Microphone, RJ-45 (LAN) Approximate Unit Dimensions - 10.47 (W) x 7.53 (D) x 1.12 ~ 1.50 (H) Approximat

Catapault to the forefront of technology with Eee PC 1000HE, the first netbook to have the Intel Atom N280 processor. With up to 9.5 hours of battery life, the 1000HE enables you to bring internet and multimedia wherever you go, without a power cord. Furthermore, its 10-inch display, 3.2 pound lightweight chassis, flush fitting battery pack, and large ergonomic chiclet keyboard will allow you to work or travel in absolute comfort for hours on end. Its generous 160 GB of built-in storage—along with an additional 10 GB of Eee Online Storage—will enable you to store, share and access your important data anytime, anywhere.

Key Features

• Up to 9.5 hours battery life
• First netbook with the Intel Atom N280 processor (667MHz FSB)
• 10-inch screen & large chiclet keyboard for comfort
• 160GB hard disk drive plus 10 GB Eee online storage
• Built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for easy wireless connectivity
• Multi-touch touchpad for ease of use
• Learn More

Large LED-Backlit Screen and Chiclet-style Keyboard for Comfortable Use

A brilliant 10-inch LED-backlit widescreen display makes reading documents and viewing multimedia files more comfortable.

This latest generation of LED backlit technology allows for ultra-thin, ultra-bright and energy-efficient display allowing outstanding portability and versatility.

1024 x 600 resolution allows you to view a single page without often needing to scroll left or right.

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Digital Camera That will Really get Your Creative Juices

Shooting movies have also five options. With a highly flexible movie mode, you can create the movie that’s perfect for any application. Select from VGA (640 x 480 pixels) and QVGA (320 x 240 pixels), with frame rates of 30 fps and 15 fps for recording up to 1 hour or 4GB. Also choose from Fast Frame Rate (QVGA; 320 x 240 pixels) recording at 60 fps for up to 1 minute, Compact Movie Mode (QQVGA; 160 x 120 pixels) recording at 15 fps for up to 3 minutes, and Time Lapse (640 x 480) recording at 1 or 2 sec. intervals. The PowerShot SD850 IS Digital Elph supports the USB 2.0 Hi-Speed standard, so you’ll enjoy the fastest possible data transfer speeds when using a USB 2.0 Hi-Speed compatible computer.

Count on the PowerShot SD850 IS Digital Elph for images that will make you say "wow" every time you shoot! Equipped with a high resolution 8-megapixel CCD, this Digital Elph is just what you need to capture life’s greatest inspirations as you’ve always wanted them. You’ll get every exquisite detail in dazzling, eye-popping color. And you can print big. Plus, the SD850 IS Digital Elph is equipped with a 4x optical zoom that features Canon’s exclusive UA lens with ultra-high refractive index glass to enhance your pictures while significantly reducing total lens size. Just imagine the possibilities!

Creative Light effects, and five movies modes A new Special Scene Mode "Creative Light Effects" brings you a new pleasure of capturing night scenes! You can select ant effect before shooting, then it transforms background bright spots to stars, hearts, music notes and more.

Shooting movies have also five options. With a highly flexible movie mode, you can create the movie that’s perfect for any application. Select from VGA (640 x 480 pixels) and QVGA (320 x 240 pixels), with frame rates of 30 fps and 15 fps for recording up to 1 hour or 4GB. Also choose from Fast Frame Rate (QVGA; 320 x 240 pixels) recording at 60 fps for up to 1 minute, Compact Movie Mode (QQVGA; 160 x 120 pixels) recording at 15 fps for up to 3 minutes, and Time Lapse (640 x 480) recording at 1 or 2 sec. intervals. The PowerShot SD850 IS Digital Elph supports the USB 2.0 Hi-Speed standard, so you’ll enjoy the fastest possible data transfer speeds when using a USB 2.0 Hi-Speed compatible computer.

18 Shooting Modes including 11 Special Scene Modes

• Auto The camera chooses all the settings so you can concentrate on your subject.
• Manual The ultimate in creative control, you set ISO speed, exposure compensation and white balance.
• Color Accent Choose to retain a single color in your image while other colors turn monochrome.
• Color Swap Select a color and replace it with a color you specify for special effects.
• Digital Macro Shoot larger-than-life close-ups with one-button simplicity.
• Stitch Assist Build awe-inspiring panoramas by neatly aligning sequential images.
• Movie Shoot in VGA and QVGA (30 fps/15 fps for up to 1 hour or 4GB), Fast Frame Rate (60 fps for up to 1 minute), QQVGA (15 fps for up to 3 minutes) or Time Lapse (640 x 480 for 1 sec./2 sec. intervals).
• Portrait The camera sets a large aperture, focusing the subject and artistically blurring the background to make your subject "pop."
• Foliage Capture brilliant shots of autumn foliage, greenery and blossoms.
• Snow Shoot clear snow scenes without darkened subjects or an unnatural bluish tint.
• Beach Get clear shots of people at a sunny beach without darkened faces.
• Fireworks Grab brilliant images of skyrocketing fireworks.
• Aquarium Achieve proper flash-free exposure and natural hues at indoor aquariums.
• Underwater Capture underwater images with reduced backscatter effect (Note: Optional Waterproof Case WP-DC15 required for shooting any underwater images).
• Indoor Reduce blur and improve color accuracy when shooting handheld indoors.
• Kids & Pets Reduced focusing time freezes fast-moving subjects, so you won’t miss those special shots.
• Night Snapshot Get natural-looking pictures with brighter backgrounds and subjects lit by flash.
• Creative Light Effects Transform background bright spots to stars, hearts, music notes and more.

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Viewsonic N4251w 42 inch LCD HDTV

The Viewsonic name is most recognized as the maker of some of the most fantastic PC displays around for gaming and other uses. Viewsonic also has a full line of LCD HDTV sets as well that are every bit as good as the PC displays Viewsonic is famous for. Today we have Viewsonic N4251w 42" LCD HDTV up for review. If you are in the market for a large screen LCD TV, check out this review of the Viewsonic N4251w 42" LCD HDTV.

The first thing that grabs the eye when you unbox the Viewsonic N4251w 42" LCD HDTV is the high gloss black bezel of the TV. the TV looks fantastic. Viewsonic didn't scrimp when it came to the specs for the N4251w 42" LCD HDTV either and loaded it up with gobs of features yet still managed to keep the selling price in the range many HDTV shoppers can afford at $1575.

The LCD panel is a 42" color TFT active matrix wide LCD with a display area of 36.6" horizontal x 20.6" vertical with a 42" diagonal viewing area. The panel's native resolution is 1366x768 and it boasts a fantastic 1200:1 contrast ratio. Viewing angles are great at 178 degrees both horizontally and vertically. Just like with PC gaming LCD monitors, the gray-to-gray response time matters on a TV and the Viewsonic N4251w 42" LCD HDTV has a good time of 8ms.

Typical brightness of the TV is 500 cd/m². The TVs light source is good for 50,000 hours. Viewsonic went all out on connectivity with the N4251w 42" LCD HDTV giving it three HDMI connectors that support HDCP which is fantastic. Those not using HDMI will be glad to hear that you also get coax, composite RCA, component HD and S-Video connectors as well. A 3.5 mm mini stereo audio in/out also allows you to use headphones or connect your PC sound output to the TV speakers. You also get an SPDIF out for digital audio.

A 15-pin D-sub is provided to allow you to connect your PC via analog connections and the TV can do resolutions of 1024x768, 1280x768, 1280x1024, and 1280x720 for PC in addition to the native resolution of 1360x768. You can also connect your Mac to the Viewsonic N4251w 42" LCD HDTV as well. The tuner used in the Viewsonic N4251w 42" LCD HDTV is ATSC/NTSC. Size the Viewsonic N4251w 42" LCD HDTV comes in at 40.4" x 30.4" x 11.6" with the stand and weighs 73.3 lbs net with the stand. TV/Video resolutions supported are 480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i. The sound system uses two speakers that a 10-watt designs and support Dolby Digital surround sound.

For testing I connected the Viewsonic N4251w 42" LCD HDTV to a Denon S-301 home theater and Sudden Link HD Cable via HDMI. The 1200:1 contrast ratio gives on screen images nice deep blacks and makes for good transitions form light to dark. Problems here often show up in the form of pixilation in scenes with lots of dark and light colors, especially at the transition between the two. I noticed none of this with the Viewsonic N4251w 42" LCD HDTV.

HD programming at 1080i looked fantastic and the TV automatically changes the screen format during HD programming if a commercial comes on that isn't HD so the image doesn't look stretched or pinched which is nice. Colors are reproduced very realistically and skin tones look great and natural. Overall the image quality on the Viewsonic N4251w 42" LCD HDTV is absolutely top notch. The fast 8ms gtg response time means that there is no ghosting during video playback, TV or gaming with consoles or PC.

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Why do you Need a Computer?

Buying a computer? Here are three questions you must ask to ensure you make the right purchase. Once you are clear on these, you will be closer to getting a smart buy.

Ask these 3 questions! Buying a Computer?

Whether you are a new user or advanced one, whether this is your first computer or second (or even third), be clear as to why you want a computer before you even think of buying one.

How will you use your computer? Are you only interested in browsing the Internet and checking e-mail? Do you plan to use your PC as a programming machine? Do desktop publishing or video editing feature on your agenda? Or is it a gaming rig?

Consider these factors before stepping into a hardware shop.

The basic components of a computer system are the motherboard (containing the processor and memory), keyboard, mouse, monitor, diskette drive, CD-ROM drive and hard drive.

In addition, there are several other types of devices you may or may not need. A trackball, joy stick, modem, tape drive, zip drive, printer, plotter, scanner, sound card and speakers, television card and video capture card, to name a few.

Whether you buy these will depend on what you need the computer for and which software applications you intend to use.

Remember the golden rule: the fastest or most expensive computer is not necessarily the one you need.

Finally, the length of time that you plan to own the computer before replacing it will also help determine which computer to buy.

What is your budget?

This is the next thing you need to be certain of. How much are you willing to spend on a PC?

After you arrive at a figure, keep a margin of a few thousands. It will give you some room for flexibility. If you are short on money when you buy your computer and cannot add all the peripherals you want, be smart.

Buy as much as you can afford. Don't cut corners on the main system unit (monitor, processor, memory, disk space).

Remember, you want the computer to last at least four years. You don't want to run out of disk space or memory in the very first year, all because you trimmed down on the memory or got a smaller hard drive.

Hard disk capacity matters a great deal as it takes no time for data to fill the available space. A 40 GB hard disk is sufficient disk space, but 80 GB is the standard recommendation.

Random Access Memory is the amount of memory available for use by programmes on a computer. One of the important factors to ensure the smooth running of your system is the memory available.

The more the memory, the better it is. Make sure you can upgrade your computer's memory as and when required.

The RAM chip comes in capacities of 128, 256, 512 MB, even 1 GB. Most computers function efficiently with 256 MB RAM, though a 512 MB RAM does offer you an edge.

Hold off on the printer or a software application and other accessories that you really don't need right away. You shouldn't have any problem installing these after the original purchase has been made. Just ensure you buy components that are compatible with your system.

Should you go for a branded PC or an assembled one?

Assembled machines are popular because they are more economically priced.

Branded PCs cost around 35 to 40% more than their assembled counterparts.

Besides, you can choose your own specifications with assembled PCs. You are not forced to accept a rigid component configuration. You cannot customise a branded PC to suit your exact requirements.

With the same price that you would pay for a branded piece, you will be able to own a superior assembled PC.

Make sure the components purchased for the assembled PC are original. Take along an informed, reliable assembler to purchase the components so that you are not fooled by counterfeit parts.

The advantage of a branded PC is the reliability of the brand, the after sales service and the technical support. On the flip side, the after sales services and repairs offered by the brands are a tad expensive and not prompt most times.

Don't forget to look at the warranty. Generally, a warranty period of a year is normal for all major parts of the PC. But there are good brands that offer either more years or the option of an additional payment to top up the warranty period.

Talk to your friends and colleagues who have assembled PCs. Ask them about their experience and recommendations on whom to approach. Question them as to what happened when they had a problem. Was the individual easy to access? Did he offer prompt service? Does their computer give a lot of trouble?

If possible, meet two or three individuals before you finally zero in on one.

Spend some time on these three issues and you will be all set to buy your very own PC!

The Garmin nüvi 360 GPS Navigator and Personal Travel Assistant

Navigation on the Nuvi is very good, fast, and intuitive. It's no different from many of Garmin's other offerings in that regard. Some buildings and businesses that you would expect to be shown as POIs are not there, but most are. One thing I would suggest: when a route is less than ideal, Garmin should allow you to correct it permanently so that it does not re-suggest the non-preferred route each time.

The Garmin nüvi 360 GPS Navigator and Personal Travel Assistant is a GPS navigator, personal translator, multi-media entertainer and tour guide all wrapped into one. In addition to all the advanced features of the Garmin nüvi 350 -- including automatic routing, turn-by-turn voice directions, an MP3 player and audio book player, JPEG picture viewer, and much more -- this pocket-sized personal travel assistant comes with hands-free Bluetooth wireless technology, making it the hands-down go-anywhere travel companion.

For starters, the nüvi 360 includes a high-sensitivity integrated GPS receiver that offers exceptional performance and reception. The unit's flip-up antenna includes an MCX-type connector for optional external GPS antenna connection. Preloaded software features maps of Europe or North America, and it includes automatic routing, 2D or 3D map perspective, turn-by-turn voice directions that speak street names, and a fingertip touch screen interface -- making navigation as easy as it gets.

But navigation is just the beginning. Like the nüvi 350, the nüvi 360 also includes many entertainment and travel tools including an MP3 player, audio book player, JPEG picture viewer, travel alarm, and currency converters.

The nüvi 360 features a bright, 2.8 x 2.1-inch TFT display with white backlight for easy readability. At 3.87 x 2.91 x 0.87-inches (WxHxD) and just 5.1 ounces, the unit is small enough to be placed on the dashboard with the included suction mount, or into your pocket for easy transportability. The unit also features Garmin Lock -- an advanced anti-theft feature that disables the unit from performing any functions until you type in a specific four-digit PIN or take the unit to a predetermined location. A built-in lithium ion battery will give you up to eight hours of power, and an included 12/24 volt adapter cable will let you run the navigator off your vehicle's power. An AC battery charger is also included.

A built-in Travel Kit that includes sample MP3s and audio books will get you started with entertainment, and with the unit's SD memory card expansion slot you can add optional software, such as language and travel guides. A USB port is also included for loading and updating data.

What's in the Box
Gamin nüvi 360, Preloaded City Navigator NT North America or Europe (full coverage), vehicle suction cup mount, AC charger, 12/24 volt adapter cable, dashboard disk, USB interface cable, carrying case, owner's manual, and quick reference guide.

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A Dream Machine for Anyone

One whose cost factor determines that you must buy it carefully.
If you are thinking of going in for a laptop (or a notebook, as it is called among the tech circles), here are a few tips that will come in handy. 12 Tips for you! Buying a laptop?

1. Opt for an Intel Pentium 4 or an Intel Centrino processor. The processor forms the computing core of your laptop and is one area where you must not compromise. Invest wisely here. The processor is the first component likely to get outdated and it is not possible to upgrade it.

2. Opt for a 256 MB DDR SDRAM. A RAM of lower memory capacity will make it difficult to run certain applications and software.

3. Choose an Active-matrix (TFT) display, preferably an LCD. The display is an active matrix if you can see the arrow while it traverses the screen. Most displays nowadays are TFTs as the Passive-matrix (dual scan) is now outdated. TFTs are highly preferred because of their sharper images, better resolution and smoother images of motion on the screen. Wide screen laptops are a visual treat and recommended for those interested in the movie experience. But they cost 8% to 10% more than the conventional laptops, are obviously bulkier to carry and slightly low on battery life.

4. If you travel extensively, take care that your laptop weighs under 5 pounds. If your laptop will be confined to your room, you could go in for a slightly heavier one. It will be cheaper. It will also have a few more features.

5. Check the battery life on the laptop. Insist that it is a Lithium-ion (Li+) battery (nearly all laptops will have this one). Choose batteries with a high voltage and a high mAh. Do not go for NiMH batteries, as you will have to keep charging them frequently.

6. If you have no intention of using a CD frequently, an external DVD and CDRW drives may be preferred to inbuilt ones. The main convenience being that they reduce the weight of the base piece and provide lesser complications later on. If they are an integral part of your work, you might as well opt for an inbuilt version. Incidentally, the prices of DVD drives are expected to fall considerably over the next one year. Don't stress on your laptop having a floppy drive. Floppies are getting obsolete by the minute and will soon be terminated.

7. If you are on the move, buy a laptop with a spill-resistant keyboard and shock-resistant hard drives. This will ensure your hard disk does not crash and you don't lose data in the event of a minor crash or fall.

8. Ensure the laptop has two or more USB ports, as you will need them to attach your peripheral devices like printers and scanners. You could even consider buying a pen drive to act as a reliable data transfer mode. Choose a laptop with wireless connectivity in the form of Bluetooth and Infrared. These make data transfer very convenient and reliable and you can send data to multiple recipients at one go. These facilities on your laptop would cost you around Rs 1,000 more and are independent of any service providers.

9. Windows XP Professional is an ideal system for a laptop meant for office use. In laptops, it is very inconvenient to upgrade your operating system, so choose the latest one. Windows is the most popular operating system, with XP Professional being the latest that supports all the software available today.

10. Some people prefer a touchpad mouse as the navigating option while others prefer the rubberised button situated between the keys G, H and B. Try working with both and pick the one you are most comfortable with. Some laptops come equipped with both. You could also consider a cordless mouse, which is half the size of the regular one.

11. Insist on an inbuilt LAN card and modem. There are basically two types of modems on offer -- internal modems and PC card-based modems. Make sure the internal modem is fast enough for your needs. Else, opt for the PC card-based one that sticks out of your computer, but is slightly better performance wise.

12. While budgeting for your laptop, bear in mind that a cheaper machine might prove expensive if you plan to upgrade it. Do not compromise on the processor, the RAM and the operating system. The memory capacity (GB) can be upgraded later on, so can the CD/DVD drives. When you are buying your laptop check on upgradation. You can upgrade your machine with or without discarding it. If you plan to change your machine within two years, don't invest too heavily on it.

Where brands are concerned, do note that the IBM laptop division has been taken over by the Chinese company, Lenova. HP and Compaq are the same brand when it comes to laptops. The good thing about this brand is that it is in a position to provide good service simply because of an established network of service centres. Despite all the advice you get, make it a point to test your laptop before purchasing it. Don't just take someone's word for it.

Check if you are comfortable with the interface, the keyboard, the touch pad and the display. After all, it is you who are going to be using it and paying for it.

Tomorrow: Buy a laptop to suit your budget.

Good Smartphone that Has its quirks - HTC FUZE Phone, Black (AT&T)

This AT&T phone can handle high-speed data connectivity via AT&T's 3G mobile broadband data network, which is available in most major metropolitan areas. The AT&T 3G network uses the dual-band UMTS 850/1900 MHz network, and this phone is also compatible with 2100 MHz 3G networks (found in international territories). The AT&T 3G network provides download speeds ranging from 700 Kbps to 1.7 Mbps, and upload speeds ranging from 500 Kbps to 1.2 Mbps. This makes it possible to enjoy a variety of feature-rich wireless multimedia services, and it gives you the advantage of offering simultaneous voice and data services. (For use outside the United States, an AT&T international data plan is recommended.)

The phone has a built-in web browser for MEdia Net downloads and mobile web browsing. AT&T's MEdia Net service enables you to receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more.

Phone Features
With the TouchFLO 3D interface, HTC has taken a great leap forward in touchscreen innovation. It's designed for one-hand operation using simple, gesture-based navigation, allowing you to simply touch, hold and slide along the screen tabs. A quick slide on the home screen quickly activates the most used features such as e-mail, text messaging, music player and camera. This instinctive interface extends to the powerful Web browser, where a useful "zoom in, zoom out" feature makes it especially easy to access the Web via the included Opera browser, which provides for desktop-like Web page renderings and user interactions. An integrated accelerometer senses when you change the position of the phone from portrait to landscape viewing, and it auto-rotates the screen's orientation.

The HTC Fuze features a sharp, 262K-color 2.8-inch VGA touchscreen (480 x 640 pixels) for touch-sensitive navigation control, complete with three-dimensional animated transitions. For email, messaging and other data input, the HTC Fuze also comes equipped with a full QWERTY keyboard that slides out from the smartphone's side.

Business users can choose from several popular platforms to access your corporate e-mail. The Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional platform offers seamless integration with Microsoft Outlook information including email, contacts, calendar and to-do lists. Additionally, Good Mobile Messaging and BlackBerry Connect compatibility will be offered late in 2008, while personal email can easily be taken mobile using AT&T's popular Xpress Mail service. You can access and edit email attachments using mobile versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, OneNote and PowerPoint.

In addition, the HTC Fuze supports scores of industry-specific applications as well as Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager (MDM), an enterprise-grade mobile device management solution that also provides security, mobile Virtual Private Network (VPN) and software distribution for Windows Mobile devices enabled for Windows Mobile 6.1.

This phone provides Bluetooth version 2.0 wireless connectivity with EDR (enhanced data rate), and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, and audio/video remote control. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You'll also be able to access open Wi-Fi networks in offices and hotspots via the integrated 802.11b/g wireless connectivity.

Other features include:

• 3.2-megapixel camera with autofocus on the back of the phone, additional VGA camera on the front of the phone for video conferencing
• Video capture up to CIF resolution (352 x 288 pixels)
• Windows Media Player compatible with MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA, WAV file formats
• 512 MB of ROM, 288 MB of RAM
• Support for polyphonic ringtones as well as real-music ringers
• Speaker-Independent Voice Dialing: Say the name of any entry in your phone book and the number is dialed automatically without using the keypad. This feature is speaker-independent, so there is no need to train the phone to respond to any one person's voice. Receive an audible status report of your phone/s coverage, signal strength, and battery strength.
• MicroSD memory card expansion (up to 32 GB capacities)
• USB 2.0 connectivity with mass storage capabilities
• Bluetooth version 2.0+EDR with the following profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), BPP (basic printing profile for text, email), DUN (dial-up networking), FTP (file transfer), HID (support for mice or joysticks), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures), PAN (personal area networking), PBA (transfer contacts)

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BlackBerry Bold 9000 is the fastest And Most Powerful

The elegant BlackBerry Bold smartphone features a lustrous black exterior, satin chrome-finished frame and stylish, leatherette backplate with a newly designed full QWERTY keyboard for exceptionally fast and easy typing and stunning half-VGA (480 x 320 at 217 ppi) color display that's fused to the undersurface of the lens, making images leap out with stunning definition and clarity. It also includes a trackball navigation system located on the top of the QWERTY keypad. The BlackBerry Bold also boasts a new acoustic design for enhanced phone listening quality and clarity and numerous premium phone features, including Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD).

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone's support for tri-band HSDPA and enterprise-grade Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g) networks and its next-generation 624 MHz mobile processor make short work of downloading email attachments, streaming video or rendering web pages. The BlackBerry Bold also includes 128 MB Flash memory plus 1 GB on-board storage memory, as well as a microSD/SDHC memory card slot that is conveniently accessible from a side door.

The Blackberry Bold delivers the legendary BlackBerry email experience. With BlackBerry service plans from AT&T, you can receive emails instantaneously from up to 10 email accounts (personal and enterprise). With BlackBerry push technology, you don't need to retrieve your email. BlackBerry devices are designed to remain on and continuously connected to the wireless network, allowing you to be discreetly notified as new email arrives. Support is also built-in for viewing email attachments (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, WordPerfect, and PDF formats).

Vital Statistics
The BlackBerry Bold weighs 4.8 ounces and measures 4.49 x 2.59 x 0.59 inches. Its 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.5 hours of talk time, and up to 324 hours (13.5 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as tri-band UMTS/HSDPA 3G networks (2100/1900/850 MHz).

Of course the first thing to say is that the screen in gorgeous. The demo videos nicely show off the tightly packed pixels. But what I didn't know going into the purchase is how many little surprises were in store:

1. The media manager is straightforward and solid. I just popped in my previous 8gb microSD and it found all my .wma files without prompting. I can find the artist or song title I want by typing in the first few letters. Only negative is it hasn't yet located the album art put on the card by wmp.
2. The screen responds to ambient light by becoming brighter when it's bright, and dimmer with backlit keyboad in low light.
3. When you plug it in for charging, it automatically switches to a clock display mode, where you can also easily set the alarm, which is perfect for how I use my phone as my main alarm. You can also set it from here to bedside mode, which permantly displays the clock super dim, and turns off annoying notification leds.
4. Paired with my BT stereo headphones instantly. Found my home wifi network and logged on much easier than Vista.
5. Voice dialing works surprisingly well.
6. Very loud speaker for music playback with surprising quality.
7. Web browser still not as nice as iphone's, but nicer than pocket ie on windows mobile.
8. The new blackberry versions of gmail and google maps rock (I downloaded them). Maps provides fast and accurate gps location, and even includes streetview! Yahoo Go (my other main ap) however, does not yet support the Bold.
9. Users new to 3G will be surprised by how fast the battery can drain when using that connection. But the battery actually holds out on par with other 3G phones.

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Crack pdf File Password - How To

Don’t you hate when you run into a locked down pdf on the internet? I search google all the time for title filetype:pdf and some are locked, this is the solution! PDFCrack is a GNU/Linux (other POSIX-compatible systems should work too) tool for recovering passwords and content from PDF-files. It is small, command line driven without external dependencies. The application is Open Source (GPL).
Features

• Supports the standard security handler (revision 2 and 3) on all known PDF-versions
• Supports cracking both owner and userpasswords
• Both wordlists and bruteforcing the password is supported
• Simple permutations (currently only trying first character as Upper Case)
• Save/Load a running job
• Simple benchmarking
• Optimised search for owner-password when user-password is known

Install pdfcrack in Ubuntu

$ sudo aptitude install pdfcrack
pdfcrack Syntax

pdfcrack -f filename [options]

pdfcrack Options

-b, - -bench - Perform benchmark and exit.

-c, - -charset=STRING - Use the characters in STRING as charset.
-m, - -maxpw=INTEGER - Stop when reaching INTEGER as password length.
-n, - -minpw=INTEGER - Skip trying passwords shorter than INTEGER.

-l, - -loadState=FILE - Continue from the state saved in FILENAME.

-o, - -owner - Work with the ownerpassword.
-p, –password=STRING - Uses STRING as userpassword to speed up breaking ownerpassword (implies -o).

-q, - -quiet - Run quietly.
-s, - -permutate - Try permutating the passwords (currently only supports switching
first character to uppercase).
-u, - -user - Work with the userpassword (default).
-v, - -version - Print version and exit.
-w, - -wordlist=FILE - Use FILE as source of passwords to try.


pdfcrack Examples
$ pdfcrack lockedfilename.pdf


pdfcrack options and examples

More information on this great utility can be found at the authors site here or here

Full HDTV Monitor - Samsung Touch Of Color T220HD 22-inch

I have to take all my gaming consoles out fo the living room and into the study, where my PC is. So I thought it would be nice to get a LCD monitor with component input for my old consoles, as well as HDMI for potential new consoles. After lots of research I picked the T220HD, because it also comes with digital tuner.

I am very happy with the choice because it is exactly what I thought it would be. it's very versatile and display everything well, and I am especially impressed with the digital tuner which picks up all the network OTA HD broadcast using a cheap indoor HDTV antenna, when my PCI tuner card (Avermedia A180) could pick up 2 or 3 using the same antenna in the same position. It's not perfect, however.

What's to like:

• Component input allows connecting older devices without HDMI.
• 2 HDMI ports
• Input source button cycles through only ports that are plugged in.
• Digital TV tuner is excellent.
• Build in speaker/headphone jack/audio out port. Speakers are not great, but having them means you don't need extra adaptors to capture the audio from HDMI/component devices.
• Remote control. OSD navigation is so much easier and more intuitive with it. And this is really useful when turning the unit on/off, making this a true LCD TV.
• Has 16:9 aspect ratio option so that pictures don't have to be stretched to full screen.
• Unit is very light, only 13 lb.
• Picture is bright and clear, no dead pixel for me.
• Screen is matte, not glossy.

What's really annoying to me:

• Unit is light because base is mostly plastic, not very rigid.
• touch sensitive power on/off button. Everything else is tactile and on the side of the monitor, except for power. turning the unit on/off using this button usually requires several presses. Might that be that big of an issue if the unit is not so light and stand so flimsy, I have to grab the whole bottom edge when I try to turn it on this way. Good thing there's the remote.
• My unit has quite a bit of backlight bleed at the center of top and bottom edge. Hard to see when using DVI input, but when viewing HDTV, with the black bars on top and bottom to get the correct 16:9 aspect ratio, the bleeding is obvious.

What are the missing features which I don't care much about:

• the stand is basic, no height adjustment, no portrait mode
• no PIP
• can't be mounted to the wall
• Cannot customize the individual RGB color tone when in DVI mode. Can only select between one of the 3 presets (warm, normal, cool).

Other nitpicks:

• monitor frame has piano finish (glossy), including the inner side which reflects what's on screen. Kind of annoying , and maybe makes backlight bleeding seem worse than it really is.
• most of the connection ports are on the back of the unit facing back. While this makes the ports easier to see than a lot of other models that has the ports on the bottom facing down, it also makes insertion of wires, especially the component video ones, harder becasue you are pushing/applying force perpendicular to the LCD panel. You don't want to put your other hand on the LCD screen, but if you don't, then you really can't get a good push.

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Epson Stylus S20 T20 T20E T23 T26 T10 T11 Printers

Well the Epson Stylus series of printers has new additions – a lower end group which includes the following :-

1. Stylus S20
2. Stylus T20
3. Stylus T20E
4. Stylus T23
5. Stylus T26
6. Stylus T10
7. Stylus T11

Currently the openprinting database indicates that these printers are mostly ‘paperweight’. However, there are divers available at avasys.jp that allow these printers to be used under Linux. The site has rpm based drivers available. But getting them to work on hardy was a little problematic since the documentation is written in a pretty obscure manner.

Since I’ve managed to get these drivers going – I thought a small howto would be in order.

1. To begin with – download the Fedora 9 rpms from the site.
2. convert these packages into .debs with the command ‘alien –scripts –keep-version pips-*.rpm’
3. Install the debs with the command ’sudo dpkg -i ./pips-*.deb’ or download from here.
4. You get a few errors like below :-

install: cannot create regular file `/etc/rc.d/init.d’: No such file or directory
ln: creating symbolic link `/etc/rc.d/rc2.d/S11ekpd’: No such file or directory
ln: creating symbolic link `/etc/rc.d/rc3.d/S11ekpd’: No such file or directory
ln: creating symbolic link `/etc/rc.d/rc4.d/S11ekpd’: No such file or directory
ln: creating symbolic link `/etc/rc.d/rc5.d/S11ekpd’: No such file or directory
ln: creating symbolic link `/etc/rc.d/rc0.d/K89ekpd’: No such file or directory
ln: creating symbolic link `/etc/rc.d/rc1.d/K89ekpd’: No such file or directory
ln: creating symbolic link `/etc/rc.d/rc6.d/K89ekpd’: No such file or directory

5. Now create a file by running ’sudo vim /etc/init.d/ekpd’
6. Copy the following into it

x———————————————————–x
# Photo Image Print System
# Copyright (C) 2002-2005 EPSON AVASYS Corporation.
# Copyright (C) SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 2002-2005.
#
# . /etc/rc.d/init.d/functions

PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin
DAEMON=/usr/local/EPAva/core/ekpd
NAME=ekpd
PIDFILE=/var/run/$NAME.pid
DESC=”EPSON Avasys printing daemon”

unset TMPDIR

test -f $DAEMON || exit 0

OLDMASK=`umask`
umask 000

case “$1″ in
start)
pidlist=`pidof $NAME`
if [ "x" = "x$pidlist" ]; then
echo -n “Starting $NAME:”
start-stop-daemon –start –quiet –pidfile “$PIDFILE” –exec $DAEMON
fi
;;

stop)
echo -n “Stopping ekpd:”
start-stop-daemon –stop –retry 5 –name $NAME
;;

restart)
$0 stop
sleep 2
$0 start
;;

*)
echo “Usage: ekpd { start | stop | restart }” >&2
exit 1
;;
esac

umask $OLDMASK
exit 0
x—————————————————————-x

7. ’sudo chmod +x /etc/init.d/ekpd’
8. Now install a few libraries by doing ’sudo apt-get install libtiff4 libpng2′
9. make a link with this commands
’sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libtiff.so.4.2.1 /usr/lib/libtiff.so.3′
10. and copy the config file for ekpd by ’sudo cp /usr/local/EPAva/printer/st20/ekpdrc_st20 /etc/ekpdrc’
11. Run ’sudo ekpd-tool’ and check that the parameters are set to
Printer Name : st<your printer number>
Connection Method : <USB>
Device Path : lp0
Select the Defualt Printer checkbox if this is your default printer.
12. Now start ekpd with ’sudo /etc/init.d/ekpd start’
13. Add the printer using the cups web interface -> Start Firefox and use the url ‘localhost:631′
14. Select Administration, Add Printer
15. Set a name, location and description
16. Select Epson Stylus Txx USB #1 from the dropdown list
17. Select Epson Stylus Txx Photo Image Print System (en) as the model
18. Now send a test page to the printer.

This should get your printer printing fine. I haven’t tested too much the test page is quite ok.
Run ‘ekpstm’ to see a graphical output that shows the printer status and the ink levels.
Hope this helps.

What to do when installing Additional Drivers on the print server doesn't work

For some printer (actually print device) models, the manufacturer does not package the drivers so that they can be installed as Additional Drivers on a print server. This is the case for many of the less expensive bubble jet, inkjet and multi-function (e.g. scanner/fax/printer) models. The manufacturers deem these to be "personal" printers for use only on the computer to which they are physically connected (parallel, USB or serial port). The manufacturer often says that printing over the network is "not supported" for these models.

If you attempt to install the drivers for these models as Additional Drivers (see for example Install Additional Driver on older OS), you will get some kind of an error or a request for the driver that can not be satisfied no matter what you do.

Unfortunately, there are some models that can not be used over the network because the print device and printer driver have to be in bi-directional communication throughout the printing process. The manufacturer's documentation does not always make this requirement apparent, although there may be FAQs or other documents on the manufacturer's web site that state this.

Except for those models discussed in the previous paragraph, you can bypass this problem by adding the printer as a local printer on the client computer and associating the printer with a network printer port (i.e. re-direct it to the printer share on the print server). No harm will be done by trying this approach if it doesn't work, so it's usually worth a try.

Here's tips trick computer how to install a printer locally and re-direct it to a network printer port. These instructions are written for Windows XP This technique does work with Windows Vista, 2008, 2003, 2000, and Windows 98 (they may work with Windows 95 and ME also), but the dialogs are a bit different, so you may have to read between the lines.

Logon at the client computer with a user account that has administrative rights and permissionsclient computer. on the

Click Start, Printers and Faxes

Right click in an empty space in the right pane and select Add Printer

Click Next

Select the Local Printer… radio button, remove the check mark from Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer; click Next

Select the Create a new port: radio button; from the Type of port: drop down list, select Local Port; click Next

In the Enter a port name: text box, key exactly the UNC name of the network printer (e.g. \\printservername\printersharename); click OK

Selecting the appropriate entries from the Manufacturer and Printers columns or click the Have Disk button as appropriate

Follow through the rest of the Add Printer wizard; when you get to the Name Your Printer panel, either accept the default, or key the name you want this printer to be known by on this computer.

How a URL Works

http:// --- This indicates it's a web page address. It is quite common to leave this part off. In modern browsers, the http:// will automatically get prefixed to addresses you type in.

www.domainname.com --- This part is called the 'host name'. It indicates what computer the page resides on. A .com address is usually an American site (though not always), while a .nz address is a New Zealand site.

/path/to/ --- This part specifies the 'path' to the actual page you want to look at. Each '/' separates the name of the directories (or folders).

file.html--- This is the actual name of the file, or page you are looking at. Most pages have a suffix of .html or .htm. Other suffices could be .cgi, .asp, .gif, .jpg. Sometimes you'll find that there is no file name at all, and the url ends with a '/'. This means that the default page will be fetched (commonly index.html or home.html).

Sometimes there will what looks like a whole lot of garbage tacked on to the end of the address - something like this: query?pg=q&kl=XX&q=english+on+line

Believe it or not, this is actually useful information. It contains extra information that you might have supplied, for instance by using a search tool.

Checking your address

In the process of copying addresses from one place to another it is very easy to make mistakes.

• Firstly, check that as far as you can see, the address that you typed matches exactly with the one you are copying from.
• Check and experiment with punctuation:

The tilde character ~ can often be mistaken for a dash -. You can usually find the tilde key to the top-left of the '1' key.  Underscores _ also often get mistaken for dashes, or omitted completely. If there appears to be a space in the address, try using an underscore instead. You can get an underscore by typing shift-dash. Don't mix up t (letter of the alphabet) and + (addition symbol).  Look at the last part of the address. If you have a '.htm', try adding an 'l' to the end to make it '.html'. If you have a 'html', try removing the 'l' to make it '.htm'.

Copy this address and paste it into the location bar of your browser. See if you can discover the correct address.http://www.pantheon.org/mythica/articles/+/troll/html

Try this one too: http://www~dept.usm.edu~engdept/cinderella/cinderella.html

(Try changing some ~ to -, + to t as well as using your knowledge about what Web addresses should look like)

Working Backwards

If none of this works, the next step is to work backwards on the URL until you find a sensible page. For instance, here is an address that's meant to be a page called "Storms Viewed from Space": http://athena.wednet.edu/curric/whether/storm.html

The address just gives you a "Not Found" page, and no matter how hard you try you can't figure out what's wrong (it's a little bit obvious, but just pretend ok!). The trick is to start stripping things off the URL, starting from the end. First take off the storm.html bit, which gives you: http://athena.wednet.edu/curric/whether/

Nope, that still doesn't seem to work. Try stripping it to the next '/' character: http://athena.wednet.edu/curric/

Ok, now we're getting somewhere! This is a valid page called "Curriculum", which has links to "Space", "Weather", "Earth", "Oceans" and "More". The next step is to navigate through the site until you find the page that you are looking for. The "Weather" link sounds like a good start. On the weather page there is a link to "Storms from Space" which leads us to our intended destination.

This method can work for both the case where the URL was a little wrong to start with, and the case where the page you wanted has been renamed, or the site has been shuffled around so it's not in the same place anymore.

Here are some links that used to work, however they don't anymore. See if you can find the correct address by following the steps above.

That didn't work - what next?

Sometimes this method will not work very well. You might have stripped your address right down to the host name, and find yourself somewhere that is nothing to do with the topic of the page you are looking for. This is usually the home page of an ISP or a university. If you find yourself all the way back to an ISP or university page home page, your chances of finding the page you want become quite slim. Here is something you can try:

Navigate through the ISP site to try to find a list of links to clients' or students' web pages. If you find this, look through these by running your mouse over each link (don't press the button, just run the cursor over the link), looking at the address as it appears in the status bar at the bottom of your browser. If you find one that looks the same or very similar to your original address, try clicking it. If it works, you may have hit the jackpot!

If you end up at a university page, you can get some hints of where to find the page from the address. For instance, in the address:

http://www.emory.edu/ENGLISH/classes/Shakespeare_Illustrated/R&JPaintings.html

The "ENGLISH/classes" bit indicates that the page is located within the English Department's part of the site. From the university home page (http://www.emory.edu) you know to look for the English Department to start your search for the page.

If you can't find the page, you must face the unfortunate reality that the page you want has been removed from that server. This could mean that:

1. The person who wrote the page has lost all interest in it and has pulled the plug.
2. The site has been shifted to a different ISP with a different address.

If all else fails, your best bet might be to email the webmaster of the host site to ask if they know what has become of the page you are looking for.

Server Errors

No Response

Your web browser seems to be trying very hard to find the page, then gives up and comes back with an error that says something like "There was no response. The server could be down or is not responding". This error happens when your web browser decides that it can't fetch the page because it didn't get any response from the server. The cause of this could be:

• The server is 'down' - the computer that holds the web page is simply not working, or not plugged into the network.
• The network is too slow - there is too much congestion on the network to get your request for the page through.
• Your own network connection is not working for some reason.

In the event of getting one of these errors, your best (and only) strategy is to just try again later. The problem could be fixed quite quickly (in a few minutes), however if the problem is with the remote server, it might take hours or even days for the server administrators to do something about it. Occasionally servers might be permanently taken out of commission. Sometimes the pages will be transferred to another server (try using a search engine to relocate them), otherwise they will be permanently unreachable.

Unable to Locate the Server

You type in your address and your browser comes back right away to say that it is unable to locate the server. This means that the host name part of the address you typed in doesn't exist, probably because there's an error in the address. Check it and try again!

RAM, Virtual Memory, PageFile and all that stuff

Virtual Memory

In most modern operating systems, including Windows, application programs and many system processes always reference memory using virtual memory addresses which are automatically translated to real (RAM) addresses by the hardware. Only core parts of the operating system kernel bypass this address translation and use real memory addresses directly. The virtual memory management component of the operating system maintains the tables used by the hardware to provide the mapping of virtual addresses into real addresses. A small amount of RAM is used by those parts of the operating system that can not be paged out (for example, the virtual memory manager) and is thus not available for assignment to virtual memory.

The key point here is that Virtual Memory is always in use, even when the memory required by all running processes does not exceed the amount of RAM installed on the system.

Address Spaces and Process

Any process (e.g. application executable) running under 32 bit Windows versions gets a set of virtual memory addresses (a Virtual Address Space) going from 0 to 4,294,967,295 (2^*32-1 = 4 GB), no matter how much RAM is actually installed on the computer. Actually, this is essentially the same for all operating systems running on 32 bit hardware that implement Virtual Memory.

In the normal, default 32 bit Windows OS configuration, 2 GB of this virtual address space are allocated to the process’ private use and the other 2 GB are allocated to shared and operating system use.

Only that portion of the address space that is actually referenced (used) by a process or the system is associated with a page frame in real memory, or in the pagefile.

Pagefile

RAM is a limited resource, whereas virtual memory is, to a large extent, unlimited in that there can be a large number of processes each with its own 4 GB virtual address space, of which 2 GB is private to the process (32 bit Windows). When the memory in use (that is, has been reference) by all the existing processes exceeds the amount of RAM available, the operating system will move pages (4 KB pieces) of one or more virtual address spaces to the computer’s hard disk, thus freeing some RAM for other uses. In Windows systems, these “paged out” pages are stored in one or more files with the name pagefile.sys. There can be one such file in each disk partition.

A frequently asked question is “how big should I make the pagefile”? There is no single answer to this question, because it depends on the workload on the computer, how much RAM there is and how much virtual memory space that workload requires.

With operating systems like Windows XP on older computers with a small amount of RAM it is not uncommon for power users to have many windows open (and thus processes running) and to exhaust the available RAM. In this situation, the goal is provide sufficient pagefile space to avoid running out of available virtual memory, which could cause application failures or at least, significant inconvenience.

There is quite a variety of ideas on this subject, but here’s a place to start for computers (typically older ones) that don't have much RAM:

• If the computer has less than 1 GB of RAM
• Minimum – 384 MB
• Maximum – 1 GB (or less if disk space is in short supply)
  
• If the computer has more than 1 GB of RAM
• Minimum – 1 GB to the amount of RAM installed
• Maximum – 1 GB to the amount of RAM installed

Most newer computers will have more than I GB of RAM and, in most cases, there is sufficient RAM available that having more virtual memory than the available RAM is a relatively rare occurrence. There is little point in allocating a large minimum size pagefile, since it typically won’t be used. However, having a relatively large maximum will avoid “out of virtual memory” conditions without dedicating a big chunk of disk space for that rare situation.

A common objective in configuring a server is to ensure sufficient RAM so that paging doesn’t happen. Providing a large maximum pagefile is insurance against “out of virtual memory” situations that could cause service interruptions. Servers running a few applications are typically configured with enough RAM that paging is rare. A possible exception are servers used for Terminal Services, where it would be common for some users to be relative inactive for long periods of time and paging may occur routinely without a significant performance penalty.

Web Browser

New Technologies

The technologies for speech-enabled browsers continue under development and some are available now. It will just be a matter of time until speech-enabled browsers become a reality. I have included a small section near the bottom of this page for speech-enabled browsers.

New Version Release of Internet Explorer

Users may download the Beta version of Internet Explorer 8 from the Microsoft Web site. Some like to wait for a later version, not a Beta version. In that case you will want to download a version of Internet Exlorer 7.

Blackberry mobile cellular browser:HTML Internet Browser

There is an icon on the main screen of the Blackberry mobile phones which is an Internet browser. Activation requires that you have a contract with a carrier such as AT&T Mobile. Then when you open the program for the browser you would see the AT&T logo with the browser name of "HTML Internet Browser" and instructions on how to begin browsing. When you come to websites not optimizing for hand-held devices you would have to scroll a lot using your track ball (both sideways and vertically) in order to see all of the Web page from such a small screen. Some sites such as the download sites for cell phones, at AT&T, are optimized for hand-held devices and are much easier to navigate using your Blackberry device.

Chrome

Chrome was released for free download from Google. Hitmill.com webmaster decided on a browser test for Chrome, and tried Chrome at ancestry.com with the following problem: When a person search was done the results came up nicely and one the links pointed to a census online at ancestry.com. I could not move the census page up or down, the page locked up and turned purple in color. I was able to exit the ancestry.com Web site without the browser freezing. So, only the page at ancestry.com froze up. This is an issue for the Chrome development team. Chrome Chrome was not able to print a copy of a census report at ancestry.com. (I shall try this test of Chrome again this week). In other features of the browser, I am very impressed and love it.

Here are a few links about the new browser:

Features of Chrome

• Web Developers' FAQ about Chrome Browser (Google.com)
• Google Chrome: A Developer's Perspective (InfoWorld)
• How Chrome Changed the Web Overnight (WebMonkey)
• Google Chrome: The First True Web 2.0 Browser (PC World)
• A Linux Users Guide to Google Chrome (ITWire.com)

Firefox 3

Firefox 3 is now available for download from mozilla.org. This is a newer, faster browser and any extensions are available for Firefox at mozilla.org. Firefox is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux i686 systems and is currently available in 27 languages. Read more about it at http://www.mozilla.com/.

Firefox 1.5 and what that was like

When I downloaded Firefox and installed it on a Windows 98 machine, then on a Windows XP Professional computer, Firefox 1.5.x did not display table bordercolor nor the color of horizontal rules. Table border width was distorted as was the width of the horizontal rules in the <HR> tags. This occurred with Firefox versions 1.0 and 1.5.x I was not able to edit a local Web page from within the browser.

Firefox was very good at having multiple instances open at the same time for searching, researching. Internet Explorer early versions were very good for editing Web pages on your local machine or thumb drive and saving the code.

• Safari 3.1.2
• Safari 3.1.2

is the default browser of the Mac OS X operating system by Apple Computer. Safari is fast, easy to use and was a real joy with its faster-loading Web pages and faster browsing. Internet Explorer is also available for the OS X operating system but in tests at home, Internet Explorer was slower-loading and I was unable to edit text on a local HTML page using Internet Explorer for the Mac OS X G4 system and the "View, Source". Hands down, Safari was faster on the Mac G4 OS X machine.

Mac OS X users and Windows PC users using XP or Vista can download Safari 3.1.2.

Note: The Mac and iMacs now utilize an Intel processor. Leopard is the current operating system version and Snow Leopard will be next, with hoopla.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is the browser belonging to Microsoft Corporation. They distribute this browser (free-of-charge) as freeware over the Internet. It is also known as Microsoft Internet Explorer and is abbreviated "MSIE" or "IE". Version 7 is current but version 8 is in Beta 2 release.

As far as the browsers go, this is the browser I like best when hand coding HTML documents in NotePad and checking the page in this browser. Open the Windows Explorer to locate the HTML document on the local computer you wish to edit. Click/or double click on the Web document to open it in a browser window such as in Internet Explorer then Click on View, Source in the browser menu bar, make an editing change on the local computer's Web page's code document, and hit the F5 key to refresh the Web page. You can toggle the pages back and forth between the viewable Web page and the source code by using Alt + Tab (to toggle the editing pages of the browser and the source code).

• Internet Explorer 8 World-Wide Sites
• Internet Explorer 8 Beta2 for XP Computers in English language download site
• Security TechCenter at Microsoft
• Microsoft Security Bulletin Search
• AOL Navigator

Netscape Navigator was a browser which was created by Mark Andreesen and his team for Netscape Communications Corporation which Mr. Andreesen co-founded. Navigator was distributed over the Web as freeware, and free downloads are still available to AOL users. Netscape Navigator was acquired by AOL.COM. Their newer versions still had some proprietary features and did not support all of the features of CSS-P, CSS, and DHTML.

Last I checked, all of my links for this browser came up with 404 errors for "File Not Found". I still keep a copy of Netscape Navigator on a disk. I not longer use this browser. Newer technologies were not supported, such as the CSS-P, a technology incorportated into the coined phrase of DHTML for Dynamic HTML, a marketing term at one time used by Netscape and Microsoft to describe the features in their version 4 browsers.

Opera

Opera Software is the Norwegian developer of the Opera Browser. This browser had a US "registration fee" of $35.00> Now you can try Opera (free) for several operating systems, including for Windows, Mac, Linux, OS/2, symbian OS. This software takes up very little space on the hard drive in comparison to Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. Read about the features of this browser and additional information about Opera in the links below.

• Additional Information about Opera Browser
• Opera Home Page
• Opera's Features
• Opera Download Page, for Windows (English)
• Opera Support Desk and FAQ Link
• Opera Plug-Ins
• Opera and Other Applications
• MyOpera Forums
• Opera Press Releases
• NCSA Mosaic

NCSA Mosaic is a client browser that was developed at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champain. It was one of the earliest graphical user interface (GUI) browsers. The NCSA Mosaic for X developers were Eric Bina and Marc Andreessen. The NCSA Mosaic Web sites at ncsa.uiuc.edu are no longer available... not one of the previous links nor download sites is working.

• Mozilla
• Mozilla.Org
• Mozilla at a Glance
• Mozilla Tutorial
• Mozilla is open source code so this tutorial for programmers is about how to use and configure the browser.

Get Configuration Information with ipconfig /all

The ipconfig /all command lets you easily view a computer’s connection information. If you know a little about TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), you know that computers communicate on a network and over the Internet by using specific numbers called IP addresses, and these addresses distinguish them from other computers on the network. IP addresses are created from four sets of numbers, one to three digits each, such as 192.168.0.5.Each computer on a network must be configured with an IP address that is different from every other on the network, the same way a computer must have a computer name that is distinct. If you’ve created a home network (workgroup) using the Network Setup Wizard, these IP addresses were created automatically.

When performing advanced troubleshooting, you’ll want to verify that all IP addresses on the network have the same pattern of numbers. For instance, if the IP addresses of three of the four computers on the network take the form 192.168.0.x, where x represents a single-digit number, the other computer’s IP address must also follow that form. Again, each IP address must be distinct, which means in this example that x must be unique for each address. While IP addresses are similar but different, subnet masks are all the same. A subnet mask tells the computers who is on their network, and who is not. A computer with a different subnet mask from the others will not be reachable. An example of a subnet mask is 255.255.255.0.

When computers on a network can’t communicate, and you want to perform advanced troubleshooting, you can find out what IP address each computer has been assigned by using the ipconfig /all command. The information output by ipconfig /all may give you insight as to the problem. Figure 8-19 shows an example of the output. Notice the IP address and subnet mask for this computer.

To get this information and troubleshoot connectivity on the network, at each computer:

1. Click Start | All Programs | Accessories | Command Prompt.
2. At the command prompt, type ipconfig /all.
3. Locate the IP address for the local area connection, generally under Ethernet Adapter. Verify that the IP addresses are all similar, 192.168.0.x, where x is unique for each so that there are no duplicate
   addresses.
4. Locate the subnet mask for the local area connection, generally under Ethernet Adapter. Verify that the subnet mask for all computers is 255.255.255.0.

If you find a computer that does not have the correct IP address or subnet mask, you need to correct it. There are multiple ways to do this. One way is to run the Network Setup Wizard again. Another is to change the network settings in the Properties dialog box of My Computer:

1. At each computer, right-click My Computer, choose Properties, and click the Computer Name tab.
2. Note what each workgroup name is, and what each computer name is. On the computer that has been deemed the problem computer, click Change.
3. In the Computer Name Changes dialog box, type in a new name for the computer if the name is not distinct on the network. Type in the correct workgroup name. Click OK.
4. Click OK twice more, and then click Yes to restart the computer.
5. Verify that you can reach network resources. If you cannot, run the Network Setup Wizard again on all computers. This will most likely not be necessary.

Tips Trick Domain and Active Directory Stuff

Links to pages about Windows Domains and Active Directory. Will be more later (when and if I get the time!). Generally, the information is about business environments and some may be applicable when there isn't actually a Windows Domain. Sorry, I don't know squat about Small Business Server, so see the SBS newsgroups on the msnews.microsoft.com news (NNTP) server for SBS specific info. Generic Rules for User Accounts, Groups, Permissions and Group Policy Objects in a Windows Domain.

Convert SID to name and vice-versa.

Below are links to a pair of downloadable Word documents about how to create a Windows 2008 Active Directory Domain. They explain basic concepts and contain tips trick for those that are new to Windows Domains. Although the detailed instructions are specifically for the Windows Server 2008 user interface, the concepts (with a few exceptions) apply to Windows Server 2003 as well. I've included explanations of the "why" as well as the "how to" as a sort of tutorial. There are many "Comments" that will only be visible if you have "Original Showing Markup" or "Final Showing Markup" selected (Word 2007 in the Review tab on the Ribbon - in earlier versions the Reviewing Toolbar).

Instructions are included that are specific to a Virtual Machine environment, but using Virtual Machines is definitely not a requirement, although useful. The files are in both the 2007 Office format (docx) and older Office format (doc). If you have an older version of Microsoft Word, you can download (free) an Office add-in so you can open the 2007 format files - see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923505 or http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displaylang=en.

I don't know why, but when I download the Office 2007 format files with IE 6 or 7, they get the file extension ".zip" instead of ".docx". However, they do open correctly in Word 2007. Change the file extension from .zip to docx in the download dialog (or after the download is complete). I know that the Word 2007 file format is a "zip" file, but that does not exactly explain why IE changes the file extension from .docx to .zip. If I look at this site with an ftp client, it tells me that these files actually have the .docx file extension.]

Concepts about and instructions for installing Windows Server 2008, setting up basic networking in a home or small business type environment for testing/experimenting, installing Active Directory Domain Services, creating a basic Organizational Unit structure:

• 133 KB WindowsServer2008BaseInstall.docx
• 185 KB WindowsServer2008BaseInstall.doc

Building on the Domain built in the above document, adds sets of user accounts and groups, delegates administrative authority, builds basic set of Group Policy Objects, shared folders and printers.

• 106 KB GettingStartedwithWindows2008Domains.docx
• 213 KB GettingStartedwithWindows2008Domains.doc

64 Bit Processors and Address Spaces

64 bit processor architectures provide virtual and physical address spaces greater than 4 GB, which can be advantageous for some applications. 64 bit architectures can provide other advantages to applications that are not directly related to the amount of addressable memory, but those are not discussed here. It is important to realize that a 64 bit architecture does not necessarily mean a 64 bit virtual or physical (RAM) address space is available. Processor, mother board, chip set and operating system design may well limit the available virtual or real addresses to less than 64 bits.

The size of the address spaces provided by these architectures appears, at this juncture, to be more than one could imagine using. However, history has shown that our ability to predict address space requirements for future systems has been pretty poor. For example:  The designers of the IBM 360 architecture in the early 1960’s provided a 16 MB address space (24 bits). RAM on those early mainframes was typically in the 10’s of Kbytes, so 16 MB was out of sight. By the 1970’s, 16 MB had already become a real limitation, so the architecture was changed to provide 31 bit (2 GB) address spaces, both virtual and physical. Why 31 instead of 32 bits had to do with the way backward compatibility for systems and applications designed and coded for the 24 bit address architecture was implemented.

 

The designers of the IBM PC architecture in the 1980’s said they could not conceive of anyone requiring more than 1 MB of memory (a 20 bit address space) on a PC (despite the relatively recent experience with the IBM 360/370 architecture!). By the end of the 1980’s, this was becoming a significant limitation that lead to the design of “expanded memory” (a form of memory mapping related to the AWE scheme implemented in Windows NT etc.) and “extended memory” – an enlarged address space.

Maximum RAM supported by 64 bit editions of Windows:

• Windows XP: 128 GB
• Windows Vista Home Basic: 8 GB
• Windows Vista Home Premium: 16 GB
• Windows Vista Business, Enterprise and Ultimate: 128+ GB
• Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition for Itanium: 64 GB
• Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition: 2 TB
• Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition for Itanium: 1 TB
• Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition: 32 GB
• Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition: 2 TB
• Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition: 2 TB
• Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition for Itanium: 2 TB
• Windows Server 2008 Web Edition: 32 GB
• Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition: 32 GB
• Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition: 2 TB
• Windows Server 2008 Datacenter Edition: 2 TB Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems: 2 TB

See:

• http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=bbc16ebf-4823-4a12-afe1-5b40b2ad3725&DisplayLang=en (Windows Vista Product Guide - Windows Vista Editions Feature Table)
• http://www.microsoft.com/hk/server/windowsserver2003/evaluation/features/default.mspx
• http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/64bit/ipf/datacenter.mspx
• http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/compare-specs.aspx

Architectural limits for 64 bit Windows memory are:

• 8 TB of shared virtual address space for the system
• 8 TB of private virtual address space per process
• 128 GB System PTE storage
• 128 GB paged pool storage
• 128 GB non-paged pool storage
• 1 TB System cache
• 256 TB pagefile size

From http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=294418 and http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/overview/x64benefits.mspx.

Here’s some information from various sources about address space implementations in various 64 bit processor architectures from Intel and AMD.

Intel

Not all processors actually have (implement) the same number of physical and virtual address bits. However, all the relatively new processors support larger physical address spaces than are actually supported by any version of Windows, so the actual number of physical address bits implemented is somewhat irrelevant.

For virtual addresses, the operating system must ensure that it does not attempt to allocate virtual memory addresses using un-implemented virtual address bits because there will be application or system failures if it does. The processors provide a way for the operating system to determine the number of virtual address bits and thus the maximum useable virtual address actually implemented (e.g. on Itanium processors, the PAL_VM_SUMMARY "procedure" - see page 2-450 in

•  (http://download.intel.com/design/Itanium/manuals/24531805.pdf ).
• Itanium (see http://www.intel.com/design/itanium/itanium/itaniumprodbrief.pdf and http://download.intel.com/design/Itanium/manuals/24531805.pdf section 4.3.2)
• Physical Address - 44 bits - ~ 17,590 GB
• Virtual Address - varies by processor model - minimum 51 - ~ 2,250,000 GB Itanium 2 (see http://download.intel.com/design/Itanium/manuals/24531805.pdf)
• Physical Address 50 Bits - ~ 1,126,000 GB
• Virtual Address varies by processor model - minimum 51 - ~ 2,250,000 GB Intel Pentium, Xeon, Core 64 bit (see http://download.intel.com/design/processor/manuals/253665.pdf)
• Physical Address - varies by processor model - minimum 36 - 64 GB for most since 2004 Virtual Address 48 Bits (minimum) - ~ 281,000 GB

AMD

• Athlon, Opteron, Sempron and Turion:
• Physical Address 40 Bits - ~ 1,100 GB
• Virtual Address 48 Bits - ~ 281,000 GB Athlon - http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/24659.PDF)
• Opteron - http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/23932.pdf
• Sempron - http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/31805.pdf
• Turion - http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/32816.pdf